Urban Forest

Milwaukie is strengthening its roots

Milwaukie is growing its urban canopy, conserving our city’s connection to natural history and planting our way to a better future.

The Urban Forest Management Plan, adopted March 2019, is an outline for protecting local trees and managing our urban forest. Local trees provide countless ecosystem services, community benefits, and serve as a valuable climate action tool in the fight against climate change. Managing and conserving trees is essential for the city.

The Urban Forest Management Plan explores why trees matter to Milwaukie and details how we’re going to expand canopies around the city with help from our government, businesses, and community.

Read the Urban Forest Management Plan here!

Urban Forest Management Plan Strategy

The Urban Forest Management Plan defines several goals, policies, and actions that are crucial to maximizing the benefits of Milwaukie’s trees and for meeting Milwaukie’s climate goals outlined in the Climate Action Plan.

To guide the protection and management of our urban forest, this plan identifies six goals:

Forest size: Foster urban forest growth to achieve 40% canopy coverage by 2040 and sustain that level through time (in alignment with Milwaukie’s Climate Action Plan).
Forest health: Maintain trees in a healthy condition through good practices.
Age and species diversity: Manage the urban forest for a diversity of ages and species.
Street tree management: Manage street trees appropriately to maximize benefits and minimize hazards and conflicts with infrastructure.
Centralized urban forest management: Identify efficiencies and coordination opportunities in the city’s role as manager of the urban forest.
Outreach and stewardship: Foster community support for the local urban forestry program and encourage good tree management on privately-owned properties.

Why Create a Forest Management Plan?

Trees are a valuable resource, especially in an increasingly urbanized environment. This Urban Forest Management Plan will help guide the future management of Milwaukie’s urban forest as the valuable community resource it is. Benefits of healthy urban trees include:

Ecosystem Services